ELLEN, LOUISA, and CLARA STANLEY, resident at Carwood.

CAROLINE, EMILY, and CHARLOTTE LLOYD, upon a tour in the South of England.

THE YOUTHFUL TRAVELLERS.

LETTER I.

CAROLINE LLOYD to ELLEN STANLEY,

Hastings, July 1st.

I PROMISED to write to you, my dear Emily, and indeed I have so much to say, that I scarcely know what to begin with.

We enjoyed our visit to Carwood exceedingly, and although it was such a beautiful morning when we left you, yet I could not help feeling melancholy as I looked for the last time upon the shrubberies in which we had so often rambled together, and at the favourite nut-tree walk where first we agreed to be friends, and then at the green-house, where the little rose-bay I watered so regularly is left to remind you of me.

Papa says that the rose-bay is a native of Karamania, where it grows in luxuriance upon the banks of the rivers, and is as common as the willow-herb is with us. You cannot think how fond I am become of botany. Emily and I mean to send you all the fresh flowers we find, as well as all the new poems we meet with. Pray send us a very particular account of your pursuits; tell us what books you are reading, what drawings you are about, and what are your favourite amusements. Do not forget to mention Bucephalus. Has he yet taken you to Burton Farm; and have you spent the day at the hermitage upon the top of the hill?

I have so many questions to ask you that I had really almost forgotten to say any thing about our own journey. You will see by the date of my letter that we are now at Hastings; it is. but a poor

town, in the midst of a very delightful country; the cliffs are extremely grand, and rise to an immense height on each side of the valley in which it is situated. We went yesterday to visit the ruins of Pevensey Castle, supposed by some to have been built by William the Con- queror, who, you recollect, landed in Pevensey Bay when he invaded England. Papa told me that nearly eight hundred years ago a battle was fought at Hastings, between the people of France; assembled under the direction of William Duke of Normandy, and the people of England, and it was agreed that whichever army gained the victory should have a right to the English crown. Harold, who led the English, was shot by an arrow from the enemy; and from the moment of his death all courage seemed to forsake his people, they gave ground on every side, and

B